Senator Chris Van Hollen expresses concern for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland immigrant, who reported traumatic experiences during his deportation and subsequent incarceration in El Salvador.**
Senator Van Hollen Advocates for Mistakenly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador**
Senator Van Hollen Advocates for Mistakenly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador**
Kilmar Abrego Garcia experiences trauma and isolation in El Salvador’s notorious prison system after being mistakenly deported by the U.S.**
Senator Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported under the Trump administration. Garcia has been imprisoned in a maximum-security facility for almost three weeks, during which he endured severe trauma and isolation.
After being transferred to a different detention center, Garcia remains in solitary conditions, cut off from communication with the outside world. Van Hollen met with him in San Salvador and shared details about Garcia's harrowing experience during his deportation process, which began when he was detained and asked for a phone call while in Baltimore—a request that was denied.
Subsequently, he was transported to Texas, shackled, and flown on a plane with obscured windows before arriving at CECOT, known for housing violent offenders and notorious for human rights violations. Garcia described the psychological toll it has taken as he has faced taunts from other inmates but noted that he was not in fear of those directly nearby him.
Van Hollen emphasized the importance of acknowledging Garcia's humanity in light of the situation he faces, reasserting that Garcia's past does not define him. "He felt very sad to be in a place that’s meant for criminals. That’s not who he is," Van Hollen said in a press conference. The senator's commitment to advocating for Garcia's rights sheds light on the broader issues surrounding immigration and deportation practices in the U.S.
After being transferred to a different detention center, Garcia remains in solitary conditions, cut off from communication with the outside world. Van Hollen met with him in San Salvador and shared details about Garcia's harrowing experience during his deportation process, which began when he was detained and asked for a phone call while in Baltimore—a request that was denied.
Subsequently, he was transported to Texas, shackled, and flown on a plane with obscured windows before arriving at CECOT, known for housing violent offenders and notorious for human rights violations. Garcia described the psychological toll it has taken as he has faced taunts from other inmates but noted that he was not in fear of those directly nearby him.
Van Hollen emphasized the importance of acknowledging Garcia's humanity in light of the situation he faces, reasserting that Garcia's past does not define him. "He felt very sad to be in a place that’s meant for criminals. That’s not who he is," Van Hollen said in a press conference. The senator's commitment to advocating for Garcia's rights sheds light on the broader issues surrounding immigration and deportation practices in the U.S.
